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Asthma and nasal allergy

Asthma and nasal allergy are two common allergic diseases among children. How are they related? Cough or breathing problems are often caused by post-nasal drip. While many children experience these, often their parents make a diagnosis themselves and think it is a minor cold and miss the opportunity to get their children treated promptly for asthma or nasal allergy.

80% asthma patients have nasal allergy

The medical sector has proposed the concept of ‘one airway, one disease’. It meansboth asthma and nasal allergy are airway problems and are closely related. Among asthma patients, 80% of them suffer from nasal allergy; and those with nasal allergy are more prone to develop asthma. If only one problem is dealt with at a given time, the treatment may not be as effective as it should be.

For example, persistent nasal allergy will lower the patient’s immunity against virus. On the other hand, if asthma patients breathe in allergens infected by virus, they may develop viral bronchitis, worsening both condition. In view of this, the World Health Organization has compiled a guideline stating that we need to treat nasal allergy first if we want to prevent asthma.

enetic factors and allergens in the environment may lead to nasal allergy and asthma. Patients need to find out what the triggers are and avoid them. If needed, they may use prescribed medicine such as antihistamine, drugs to relieve nasal congestion, or even nasal spray for asthma patients. These will help improve their condition and gradually reduce the number of attacks.